The Elements of The Elements of Professional PublishingProfessional Publishing

Hal Pollard, ASHPHal Pollard, ASHPTo the U.S. Public Health Service

Pharmacist Professional Advisory CommitteeMarch 3March 3rdrd, 2005, 2005

Pharmacists helping people make the best use of medicines

Why Publish?Why Publish?

Professional advancementProfessional advancement

Personal satisfactionPersonal satisfaction

Contribution to the professionContribution to the profession

Professional AdvancementProfessional Advancement

Potentially important for raises and promotionsPotentially important for raises and promotions Enhances your name recognition and visibility Enhances your name recognition and visibility

within the professionwithin the profession Increased visibility may lead to speaking Increased visibility may lead to speaking

engagements, consulting agreements, other engagements, consulting agreements, other opportunitiesopportunities

Opens the door for research fundingOpens the door for research funding Sharpens knowledge of specialty (and beyond)Sharpens knowledge of specialty (and beyond)

Personal SatisfactionPersonal Satisfaction

Creates a real sense of accomplishmentCreates a real sense of accomplishmentBroadens network of friends and Broadens network of friends and

colleaguescolleaguesValidates your workValidates your workGenerates opportunities for travelGenerates opportunities for travelDevelops writing and other skills (literature Develops writing and other skills (literature

retrieval and review, statistics, computer retrieval and review, statistics, computer skills)skills)

SomeSome potential for income potential for income

Contribution to the ProfessionContribution to the Profession

Contributes to the improved health of Contributes to the improved health of patientspatients

Develops pride in profession amongst Develops pride in profession amongst colleaguescolleagues

Encourages more research and writingEncourages more research and writing Informs and educates colleaguesInforms and educates colleaguesHelps other health professionals and Helps other health professionals and

public better understand pharmacy’s rolepublic better understand pharmacy’s role

My Professionalism SoapboxMy Professionalism Soapbox

Publishing spurs profession’s Publishing spurs profession’s advancementadvancement

Gaining respect from other health Gaining respect from other health professionals is essential for collaborative professionals is essential for collaborative workwork

Way out of the ‘professional basement’Way out of the ‘professional basement’Can’t rely on industry to create all the Can’t rely on industry to create all the

knowledgeknowledge

Who is Publishing?Who is Publishing?

PhysiciansPhysiciansPharmacistsPharmacistsNursesNursesTechniciansTechniciansDieticians/NutritionistsDieticians/NutritionistsYOU!YOU!

Forms of PublishingForms of Publishing Case reportsCase reports Clinical pearlsClinical pearls Letters to the editorLetters to the editor Book reviewsBook reviews EditorialsEditorials Poster/paper presentationsPoster/paper presentations Review articlesReview articles Survey articlesSurvey articles MonographsMonographs Original researchOriginal research Book chaptersBook chapters Books (electronic and print)Books (electronic and print)

Other Ways of Getting InvolvedOther Ways of Getting Involved

Review book conceptsReview book conceptsServe on editorial boardsServe on editorial boardsPeer review journal articlesPeer review journal articlesReview book chaptersReview book chaptersServe as section editor for a bookServe as section editor for a book

Common Barriers to WritingCommon Barriers to Writing

Finding the time to writeFinding the time to write Selecting a topicSelecting a topic Finding colleagues to collaborate withFinding colleagues to collaborate with FundingFunding Intimidation by the publication processIntimidation by the publication process

Following author instructionsFollowing author instructions Internal review processInternal review process Peer reviewPeer review Acceptance, modification, resubmissionAcceptance, modification, resubmission

Rejection!Rejection!

Making the Time to WriteMaking the Time to Write

Make it a priorityMake it a priority Schedule time to write each daySchedule time to write each day Outline your conceptOutline your concept Create a schedule and stick to itCreate a schedule and stick to it Work with collaboratorsWork with collaborators Get supervisor’s buy-inGet supervisor’s buy-in If you get stuck, talk with your publisherIf you get stuck, talk with your publisher Don’t bite off more than you can chewDon’t bite off more than you can chew

Plan the ProcessPlan the Process

Have something important to sayHave something important to sayUnderstand the target audienceUnderstand the target audience

Who cares?Who cares?Select the right tone and modelSelect the right tone and modelDelivery methodDelivery methodWhere to submit?Where to submit?

Do your homework on background and Do your homework on background and referencesreferences

Pay attention to the submission guidelinesPay attention to the submission guidelines

Authorship IssuesAuthorship Issues

Select a lead author at the outsetSelect a lead author at the outset Decide how work will be dividedDecide how work will be divided Select co-authors based on what they bring to Select co-authors based on what they bring to

the projectthe project Plan regular contact with co-authorsPlan regular contact with co-authors Avoid the ‘ego trap’ Avoid the ‘ego trap’ Be professional, not politicalBe professional, not political Writing is a commitmentWriting is a commitment Acknowledge contributions appropriatelyAcknowledge contributions appropriately

Tips on WritingTips on Writing

Work from an outlineWork from an outlineDon’t kill your own creativityDon’t kill your own creativityUse active voiceUse active voiceEnlighten, don’t anesthetizeEnlighten, don’t anesthetizeHave your work reviewed prior to Have your work reviewed prior to

submissionsubmissionAim for an error-free final manuscriptAim for an error-free final manuscriptHave fun with itHave fun with it

General TipsGeneral Tips

Read good writingRead good writingDiscuss your work, and the work of othersDiscuss your work, and the work of othersVisit poster sessionsVisit poster sessionsWelcome your editor’s input Welcome your editor’s input Read and reread Read and reread Elements of StyleElements of Style by by

William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. WhiteWilliam Strunk, Jr. and E.B. WhiteWrite every dayWrite every dayDid I mention have fun?Did I mention have fun?

Complete Proposals Should Complete Proposals Should ContainContain

Statement of scope and intentStatement of scope and intentPhysical specifications of the publicationPhysical specifications of the publicationDraft table of contentsDraft table of contentsSample materialSample materialCurriculum vitaCurriculum vita

Statement of Scope and IntentStatement of Scope and Intent

PurposePurposeApproachApproachSubjectSubjectAudience Audience Timing ConsiderationsTiming Considerations Illustrations and FeaturesIllustrations and FeaturesDelivery ElementsDelivery ElementsCompetitionCompetition

Physical SpecificationsPhysical Specifications

Trim SizeTrim SizePrinted PagesPrinted Pages IllustrationsIllustrationsOther special design elementsOther special design elements

Anatomy of a Scientific PaperAnatomy of a Scientific Paper Title: Descriptive, concise, and interestingTitle: Descriptive, concise, and interesting Abstract: Include all components of the manuscriptAbstract: Include all components of the manuscript Body:Body:

Introduction: State objectives, any questions, reason for writingIntroduction: State objectives, any questions, reason for writing Materials and Methods: Provide details Materials and Methods: Provide details Results: Stick to the facts, make sure it makes senseResults: Stick to the facts, make sure it makes sense Discussion: Draw conclusions from your data, compare to previous Discussion: Draw conclusions from your data, compare to previous

studiesstudies Conclusion: Studies implications, supported by results, and related to Conclusion: Studies implications, supported by results, and related to

objectivesobjectives References: Include retrievable sources, follow formatReferences: Include retrievable sources, follow format Tables: Do not imbed in text, follow guidelines, keep simpleTables: Do not imbed in text, follow guidelines, keep simple Figures: Do not imbed in text, look professionalFigures: Do not imbed in text, look professional Figure Legends: Descriptive and conciseFigure Legends: Descriptive and concise

Essential ReferencesEssential References Strunk, William, Jr., White, E.B., Strunk, William, Jr., White, E.B., The Elements of Style.The Elements of Style.

4th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Longman/Pearson 4th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Longman/Pearson Education; 2000Education; 2000

Skillin ME, Gay RM. Skillin ME, Gay RM. Words Into TypeWords Into Type. 3rd ed. . 3rd ed. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall; 1974Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall; 1974

University of Chicago Press, University of Chicago Press, The Chicago Manual of The Chicago Manual of StyleStyle. 15th ed. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press; . 15th ed. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press; 20032003

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate DictionaryMerriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. 11th ed. . 11th ed. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster; 2003Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster; 2003

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate ThesaurusMerriam-Webster’s Collegiate Thesaurus. Springfield, . Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster; 1994MA: Merriam-Webster; 1994

Stedman’s Medical DictionaryStedman’s Medical Dictionary. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: . 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2000Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2000

Reference to Get You StartedReference to Get You Started Huth EJ. Huth EJ. Writing and Publishing In MedicineWriting and Publishing In Medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott . 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott

Williams & Wilkins; 1999Williams & Wilkins; 1999 Iverson C, FlanagIverson C, Flanagin A, Fontanarosa PB et al. in A, Fontanarosa PB et al. American Medical Association Manual American Medical Association Manual

of Style: A Guide for Authors and Editorsof Style: A Guide for Authors and Editors. 9th ed. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins; . 9th ed. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins; 19981998

Hamilton, CW. Hamilton, CW. How to Write and Publish Scientific Papers: Scribing Information for How to Write and Publish Scientific Papers: Scribing Information for Pharmacists. Pharmacists. Am J Hosp PharmAm J Hosp Pharm 1992; 49:2477-84 1992; 49:2477-84

Miller LG. Miller LG. Research Guidelines for the Pharm.D. Practitioner.Research Guidelines for the Pharm.D. Practitioner. PharmacotherapyPharmacotherapy 1994; 14(6):740-21994; 14(6):740-2

Zellmer WA. Zellmer WA. How to Write a Research Report for Publication.How to Write a Research Report for Publication. Am J Hosp PharmAm J Hosp Pharm 1981; 38:545-501981; 38:545-50

Woodward DK, Clifton GD. Woodward DK, Clifton GD. Development of a Successful Research Grant Development of a Successful Research Grant Application. Application. Am J Hosp PharmAm J Hosp Pharm 1994; 51:813-22 1994; 51:813-22

Motheral BR, Jackson TR. Motheral BR, Jackson TR. Understanding and Evaluating Original Research Articles. Understanding and Evaluating Original Research Articles. J Am Pharm AssocJ Am Pharm Assoc 1999; 39:759-74 1999; 39:759-74

Scientific Writing Links. Scientific Writing Links. http://spot.colorado.edu/~carpenh/links.htmhttp://spot.colorado.edu/~carpenh/links.htm International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Uniform Requirements for International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Uniform Requirements for

Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals: Writing and Editing for Biomedical Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals: Writing and Editing for Biomedical Publication. Updated November 2003. www.icmje.orgPublication. Updated November 2003. www.icmje.org

Thanks for Having Me!Thanks for Having Me!

Hal Pollard

hpollard@ashp.org

410-669-2001

Pharmacists helping people make the best use of medicines